The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas

Love this book - I have been through this book the past 2 years as a way to keep the true meaning of Christmas in Christmas. Beautifully written! Plan to make reading this book a tradition for every year to come! Beautiful!

This book had so many insights and gems. I found myself in awe as I read the pages. Each day was a short read and worth the few minutes to stop and prepare my heart during the Advent season leading up to Christmas.

This is an incredible book that daily through Advent had me focusing on Jesus as never before. I highly recommend this book for readers who love Jesus and wants a deeper Christmas experience.

This was a book that simply tried too hard to be clever. I disagree that the language was "flowery" as one reviewer thought. Rather, I thought the author chose to use words that she thought were perhaps weighty. In doing so, it made it seem like she was trying too hard to be clever. It was also very distracting to the core messages when sentence structures were unconventional and/or awkwardly phrased. For example, words that should have been nouns or adjectives were used often as adverbs (there were even a couple of words used that weren't words at all). I felt there was too much repetition within each devotion as well as too much of it from devotion to devotion. It just seemed like there were certain things she really seemed compelled to hammer on and on about. Instead of being able to appreciate what I was reading, a little voice in my head was saying :"Oh, this again." As I got to the Christmas Eve devotion, I thought it was a strange parallel for the author to draw between the "Revelation Nativity" and the first Christmas. On the verge of hope and glory and God's entry into the world after 23 other devotions that were building up to this point, the author oddly gives the reader a glimpse of the end times. It was a bit of a downer and seemed out of place in a devotional for Christmas. As a Catholic Christian, I felt the heavy emphasis on grace was a bit too much as well. I hate to be critical of pro-Christian works that are meant to enrich one's faith life, but this devotional was tedious to read. On the positive side of things, I did think that the questions and prayer prompts at the end of each devotion were generally good --most were thought-provoking to journal about.

Having read Ann Voskamp's first book, Ten Thousand Gifts, I fell in love with her honesty, ability to turn any everyday moment into an opportunity to connect with The Lord, and her unique writing style. She seems like someone who never meets a stranger, exuding Christ's love and grace in every personal encounter. She'd probably be the first to admit that she's not perfect and always needs the grace and mercy of God to get through each day. Seeing her heart bravely laid open on the page makes me not only feel less alone in my own struggles, but also love her for the gift she's given in sharing hers.I was looking for an Advent guide, something to help me take a little time each day on December to reflect on the year and help prepare my heart for the coming of Christmas. Every year, it seems like December flies by and Christmas sneaks up on me, then it's over. This book was the perfect companion to the Christmas season for me, educating me on the lineage of Christ, the pathway of imperfect people the Lord chose to use to fulfill His plan to win our hearts back to him. I loved the structure of each day's reading: Scripture, relatable/relevant present-day application, discussion or introspective questions with room for journaling. Additionally, the book includes a link to free, printable Advent "ornaments" you can include on your Christmas tree to remind yourself of the day's message. I had a small tree on my dining room table on which I hung only those ornaments.If you're looking for a way to appreciate the Christmas season in a whole new way, you will not be disappointed in this book. I'm excited to reread this book each year at Christmas. Thank you, Ann, for this gift. :)

This book was spiritually edifying. I wish it didn't end so quickly!I enjoyed this look at the people in the lineage of Jesus. Oftentimes Christmas devotionals focus just on the nativity story, but incorporating the stories that happened through the centuries made it powerful once you did get to the manger.The use of various versions of Scripture did distract me, since I was looking them up in my Bible, and the author tended to use sentence fragments. But I adjusted and was eager to keep reading.The Advent Tree and things--I didn't do anything with that.Yes, I'd recommend this book for its spiritual insights and inspirational content.

Absolutely the best devotional I have ever had the pleasure of reading. In beautiful, Ann Voskamp style, her poetic prose will keep your heart focused on Jesus throughout the Advent season. Even better, each daily reading, covering scripture from Creation to the birth of Jesus, will challenge you to grow as you respond to the questions at the end of each 4 (or so) page section. I don't know how she does it, but her questions get right to the heart of what God is doing in me every single time. I can usually finish the reading and respond to the questions in about 10-15 minutes of quiet time, but the poignant message she shares goes with me through each day affecting real change. There's space to respond right in the book of you process best by writing like I do. It even includes daily, practical challenges that allow me to reach out to the world around me with the love of Jesus. God with us, God through us. This is one worth repeating every Christmas season; or any season for that matter.

A beautifully written book which I really appreciated in the run up to Christmas. I love Ann's writing! Taking time each day to read a manageable allotted amount throughout December in such a busy time of year, was sooo good In previous years I have often felt that I haven't been able to prepare myself in time spiritually for Christmas day, which has left me feeling frustrated and disappointed. Last Christmas, reading this book, the wonder of Christmas grew in me as it took me through the Bible and all the amazing promises and anticipations of Jesus coming to earth, in a rich feast of the incomparable love of God towards us. I was so blessed that I intend to read it again next December. If the gospel stories of Christmas feel too over familiar or even stale to you as I often have felt, this will give you a deeper insight into Jesus's coming, which is truly inspiring.

The style of writing is a bit too airy-fairy for my liking, but there are some lovely lines in this book.

A fabulous read. I have used this through advent and have been challenged and encouraged to look already at the truth of God touching our beautiful world again. Not a story for a season but a truth to be grasped for all time. For everyday . To live by.Thank you

I found the images disappointing and the way it is advertised you think that you are going to get a paper symbol to take out and hang on your tree. The commentary is passionate (very American) and the reflection suggestions during Advent are good. I thought it would be more beautiful in presentation.

Ann Voskamp's poetic but Jesus centred prose is just such a lovely, quiet and dignified way to wait for the Lord this Christmas. I have even bought a copy for my non-believing bitter and lonely mother-in-law and her heart is being unveiled with each page. I am hopeful that rather than focussing on the loss in her life she will focus on finding Jesus forevermore.